Bentley Bentayga To Get The Largest Carbon Fiber Wheels Ever Offered On A Production Vehicle

Bentley announced today that it’s working with Bucci Composites to produce a set of 22-inch carbon fiber wheels for the Bentayga.

Offered through Bentley’s in-house customizing shop, Mulliner, the wheels are the biggest composite wheels ever offered on a production vehicle. Not only will the supercar technology look cool, it will save 6 kg (13.2 lbs) per wheel, or a total of 24 kg (52.9 lbs), of unsprung weight.

As supercars already know, carbon fiber wheels provide advantages for handling and braking performance. It’s not just the weight that’s helpful, though. An aluminum wheel of comparable size can lose up to 1 degree of camber due to wheel flex, reducing grip. Much stiffer, a carbon fiber wheel is less prone to camber loss.

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That stiffness also contributes to reduced tire wear. Without that bending that a less rigid material allows, the tires gain stability and have a more consistent contact patch thanks to carbon fiber‘s more supportive structure.

Moreover, the carbon wheels even contribute to increased safety, says Bentley. To get the wheels ready for production, the automaker tested them with TUV, a technical inspection association.

Bentley’s is the first carbon fiber wheel to pass every one of TUV’s tests, including biaxial stress testing, radial and lateral impact testing for simulating potholes and cobblestones, overinflated tires, and excessive torque tests. And while passing all of those tests, it also performed better than an aluminum wheel in the impact test.

Unlike an aluminum wheel, which cracks when it’s hit too hard, the carbon fiber wheel’s weave starts to pull apart. In an old-fashioned wheel, a big crack can lead to an explosive loss of tire pressure that can suddenly alter steering behavior, which is hard for a driver to correct for. The carbon wheel, meanwhile, loses pressure more gradually, offering the driver better chances to safely pull over.

Pricing for the wheels has not been revealed yet, but Bentley has said that they will be available to order later this year through Mulliner, and can be selected along with other carbon parts like a front splitter, sill extensions, a rear diffuser, and more.